Indonesia is planning to increase its biodiesel mandate from its current rate of 20% to 25% from 2019. This is to increase palm oil consumption and decrease fuel imports. Indonesia is to increase its biofuel mandate to 30% in 2020, according to 2015 legislation.

Palm oil, featuring in dozens of consumer items and which can be used to produce biodiesel, Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of the crop. In an effort reduce demand for the crop, the EU has made moves to limit the importing of palm oil-derived biofuel, which is often cited as a major cause of deforestation. PWKD28052018

Eesti Gaas has launched a fuel service station in the capital, where customers can now purchase compressed natural gas, in addition to green gas or biomethane, making it the first company in Estonia to do so.

Kalle Palling, vice chairman of the Environment Committee of the Riigikogu said, "The Estonian state has committed to cover at least 10% of renewable fuels from transport by 2020, of which about one third would be biomethane. Therefore, I hope that the Estonian people who value the environmental awareness will also take the biomethane quickly into ownership."

Since Rohegaas OÜ established the first biomethane production unit in the Baltics in Kunda, the sale of innovative automotive fuel at Estonian Fuel stations is possible.

"From the perspective of Eesti Gaas, the sale of green gas, which is alike natural gas, but identical to one hundred percent renewable gas, is a logical decision in the light of future trends," said Raul Kotov, Member of the Board of Eesti Gaas. "Compressed gas cars are coming to the market, people and companies are increasingly aware that compressed gas is a fuel efficient and low fuel economy compared to conventional fuel and diesel.”

Green gas or biomethane produced from biogas is a gas released as a result of fermentation processes. This is a normal part of the living environment, consisting mainly of methane and carbon dioxide.

Pumped gas is sold in kilograms. When traveling with compressed gas, the price per kilometer is about two times lower than conventional fuel. A kilogram of biomethane costs 0.821 euros at the fuel service stations of Eesti Gaas, while the price of natural gas is EUR 0,811 per kilo. PWKD24042018

The 50:50 joint venture company has its focus on sourcing and marketing of natural gas in India.

The joint venture of BP and RIL, India Gas Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (IGS) has announced the appointment of Vinod Tahiliani as its CEO.

“The need for assured natural gas supplies to fuel the exponential energy demand and growth of India is crucial and our IGS partnership is well positioned to contribute significantly in this respect,” said Sashi Mukundan, Region President and Country Head, BP India.

PMS Prasad, Executive Director, RIL, said “Vinod Tahiliani brings with him the expertise to lead IGS as we look to further develop the business. Demand for natural gas has been growing at an exponential rate and we anticipate natural gas to emerge as the preferred choice of fuel given its properties as a cleaner and sustainable fuel source”.

Tahiliani joins IGS from BP, where he was most recently the Vice President, Strategy & Commercial for BP India and has over 25 years of international experience in the oil and gas business and project financing. PWKD08022018

OrangeGas has made the first steps outside the Netherlands, with its acquisition of 13 natural gas / CNG fuel stations in Germany.

By the end of 2019, the company aims to become the largest sustainable fuel operator in Europe, with the stations becoming operational under OrangeGas label starting December 2017.

Marcel Borger, CEO and founder of OrangeGas said, “We are confident that we will be able to grow substantially in Germany over the coming 2-3 years to 100-150 natural gas filling stations. The next 30-50 stations are already in the pipeline. We have therefore appointed an experienced director Germany and he has already booked his first successes in the first 1 1/2 month. OrangeGas is very well received by our transparent approach, customer orientation and recognizable marketing strategy”.

Total turnover increased by more than 10%, with the purchase. Volkswagen, in Germany, is fully committed to CNG with the support of, among others, Angela Merkel. The first big CNG meeting of Volkswagen in Hamburg was opened by her in 2017.

OrangeGas has concrete plans for Belgium, in addition to Germany, where driving on natural gas is becoming increasingly popular, and also Sweden, since here, driving on green gas is very popular with business lease drivers. OrangeGas aims to grow to 1000 sustainable fuel stations in Europe, with these aspirations.

OrangeGas sells 100% green gas at fuel service stations, in the Netherlands. Produced from sewage treatment plants, green waste and landfill gas, this is the green variant of natural gas and biogas.

The only direct and widely applicable sustainable fuel of the moment is Green gas. All types of vehicles can be ordered directly from the factory in the showroom.From the VW UP to delivery vans to the Audi A4 and A5, it is 0.25 € cheaper than diesel and 0.60 € cheaper than fuel and with a similar consumption of diesel.

Electric fast chargers are also being operated by OrangeGas in Amsterdam. Suitable for large transport such as buses, refuse trucks and passenger cars, there are also plans to open the first hydrogen fuel service station in Amsterdam in 2019. PWKD29012018

A regional agricultural cooperative from Illinois, Growmark, Inc., is offering Top Tier Diesel Fuel blended with biodiesel. Popularity is being gained by Top Tier performance standards, which help vehicle owners ensure they are purchasing a clean, high quality fuel. Growmark is using cleaner burning biodiesel to increase the fuel quality even more, as one of the only Top Tier Diesel Fuel providers in the country.

“By blending biodiesel into Top Tier Diesel Fuel, Growmark is providing customers with even more benefits. Biodiesel is cleaner burning than diesel, has higher cetane, provides better lubricity, and is safer to handle and store. Blending biodiesel with any high-quality diesel fuel will help create a cleaner, safer, and more efficient fuel overall,” said Scott Fenwick, Technical Director for the National Biodiesel Board.

Better performance was the aim behind the development of Top Tier Diesel Fuel, which would in turn help the diesel fuel retailers, auto and engine manufacturers, and those who drive or use diesel-powered equipment. The Top Tier Diesel Performance Standard requires detergents to reduce deposits on the fuel injectors, improve lubricity and fuel stability, in addition to providing more protection, compared with the ASTM D975 and D7467 specifications for diesel and biodiesel blends.

Curt Dunafin, manager of energy services for Growmark, said “Since 1952, the FS System of member cooperatives has been supplying additized diesel fuel that outperforms conventional fuels. Reformulated in 2012 in response to the industry-wide onslaught of internal diesel injector deposits, Dieselex Gold ULS easily meets and exceeds the Top Tier diesel fuel requirements. From storage tank to fuel system and ultimately exhaust, our Dieselex Gold keeps systems clean, free of moisture, and operating at peak efficiency.”

Growmark has been an active participant in alternate fuel research, marketing and distribution for many years and is one of the few licensed brands providing Top Tier Diesel Fuel. Biodiesel is a renewable, clean-burning diesel replacement that can be used in existing diesel engines without modification. It is the nation’s first domestically produced, commercially available advanced biofuel. PWKD11122017

The First fast-charging point has been rolled out together with Allego

The number of electric cars in the country is increasing, with vehicles getting an ever increasing range and due to technological innovations, charging takes considerably shorter.

Shell is working on a fast-charging network with which it anticipates to meet the needs of a growing number of motorists owning an electric vehicle that also wants to be able to load on the road. It has the ambition to realize a first network of 25 charging stations. The first fast charging points will be in the Randstad.

The name of the new charging service is Shell Recharge. The electricity that customers purchase comes from green, Dutch energy sources.

Machteld de Haan, General Manager Shell Retail Benelux & France, said, "We want to be there for all motorists. That is why we ensure that our products and services always match the wishes of our guests as well as possible. We are taking the next step with the provision of fast charging services."

Few Shell stations, even before the end of the year, have been provided with Shell Recharge. The following months will have more stations with fast-charging points, constituting a network. Working together with Allego for the fast-charging network along motorways, Shell’s partner has all charging stations under management and offers direct support to drivers who use the service.

“Electric mobility is an example of this. In addition to the Shell Recharge network, IONITY is working on a European network of fast-charging points. Together with the recently announced takeover of NewMotion, which focuses on charging stations at home and at work, we develop a broad range of services that is needed to continue the initial success of electric vehicles," said Marjan van Loon, CEO of Shell Netherlands. PWKD11122017

Eni and Snam have signed the first contract implementing the framework agreement signed on May 2017 for the development of methane service stations in Italy, which is part of a set of initiatives promoting sustainable mobility.

The 20-year contract lays out the plan for the construction and maintenance of a first batch of 14 new CNG (compressed natural gas) plants by Snam within Eni’s national network of service stations, favoring the supply of low-emission alternative fuels such as methane. Natural gas eliminates particulate matter, the most polluting element in urban areas, and offers significant economic advantages to customers. Snam will receive an amount estimated between 20 and 40 million euro from Eni for its services.

The contract is part of Snam’s initiatives for sector operators and aims to promote sustainable mobility. It includes an investment of 150 million euro to roll-out up to 300 new CNG and L-CNG (liquefied-compressed natural gas) service stations which will support the development and more balanced distribution of natural gas fuelling stations in different regions across the country. It will also improve the quality of service for users.

Eni seeks to further strengthen its offer for sustainable mobility through this initiative. Approximately 1,000 of Eni’s stations currently supply LPG and methane (including 2 LNG and 180 CNG), while the remaining 3,500 deliver Eni Diesel+, its premium diesel with 15% renewable content produced from vegetal oils at its Venice biorefinery. PWKD05122017

The switch will have a reduction in output of greenhouse gases by up to 80%

An Eastern Contra Costa County Transit Authority in California, Tri Delta Transit, has decided to change their entire fleet of transit buses from operating on fossil diesel to using only Neste MY Renewable Diesel(TM).

Produced from 100% renewable and sustainable raw materials, Neste MY Renewable Diesel is a low-carbon fuel, which cuts greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% and significantly reduces tailpipe emissions, all the while enhancing fleet performance. A drop-in alternative to fossil diesel, Neste MY Renewable Dieselis distributed via the same fuel infrastructure.

Mike Furnary, director of marketing at Tri Delta Transit said, "Tri Delta is committed to operating our service safely, efficiently and responsibly. By switching to renewable diesel, we will reduce our output of greenhouse gases by up to 80%."

Providing over 3,000,000 trips each year to a population of more than 250,000 residents, Tri Delta Transit, operates 14 local bus routes. Since there's no smoke and fuel odor, eliminated by switching to Neste MY renewable diesel, Tri Delta's 3,000,000 trips a year are now more sustainable and more rider-friendly.

"Neste is happy to have a forward-thinking company like Tri Delta Transit join the ranks of other progressive companies leading the way towards sustainable solutions. By making the switch to Neste MY Renewable Diesel, they are committed to reducing emissions and protecting the environment,"said Jeremy Baines, vice president of sales, Neste US, Inc.

Kevin Moody, maintenance director at Tri Delta Transit, said "Since changing fuels, we have received zero complaints from drivers regarding vehicle power and reliability, and there has been no change to routine maintenance.” PWKD07122017

Circle K is even planning a 2018 foray into residential charging stations

Owners of the next generation of electric cars, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., a Canadian convenience-store company has gained a European foothold with its 2012 acquisition of Statoil ASA’s retail arm and is using the country as a testing ground for how to respond to the electric-vehicle boom.

“This is a trend that will continue to grow, so what is important to us is to transform with the market, like we have done many, many times over the last 100 years,” Jacob Schram, Couche-Tard’s head of European operations.

The core relationship between fuel service stations and drivers is threatened by the growing global popularity of environment-friendly electric cars, spurred by government incentives and falling prices. Circle K is planning a 2018 foray into residential charging stations, to keep customers loyal in Norway, where electric vehicles now account for almost 30 percent of new sales.

Financed by a group of carmakers including BMW AG and Ford Motor Co., the new supercharger, at Circle K’s Dal facility, is part of a European-wide push. 60 stations have been planned in seven countries, 20 in Norway alone — and room for six cars per charging station. The retailer will pocket rent from automakers, in addition to a share of revenue.

Norway boasts the highest EV penetration in the world, with almost 120,000 electric vehicles for 5.3 million people, helped by long-standing policies that exempt owners from several sky-high taxes. As per the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association, a fossil-fuel car buyer would pay an average of 95,000 kroner ($11,700) just for a one-time acquisition tax.

Food and services, which come with higher margins, include the approach. Couche-Tard has been struggling to increase that category as a share of total in-store revenue, regardless of efforts to offer better coffee and fresh food — partly because of the continued strength of lower-margin tobacco sales. Source: Jennifer Bartashus, Retail Analyst Bloomberg PWKD07112017

Editors Note: PetrolWorld has closely followed the arrival of EV's in the European Union over the last decade. We will publish a number of articles in 2018 to cover the general development of EV around the world. Watch this space!

A new, exciting fueling option: 93-octane super premium that contains 10-percent ethanol has become available, which can be used for high-compression engines like those in motorcycles. A combination of the standard premium sent to Iowa from fuel refiners which is then blended with 10-percent ethanol, is what constitutes the new fuel; the ethanol boosts octane reducing cancer-causing emissions.

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Sitting on a motorcycle in traffic breathing exhaust fumes from cars makes you appreciate a cleaner-burning fuel like ethanol. It’s exciting that retailers are bringing 93-octane super premium to Iowans. It is perfect for motorcycles and many sports cars can benefit also.”

The first retail chain to make 93-octane part of their fuel options was Murphy USA with Kum & Go adding it to many of their locations. PWKD22082017